The Indianapolis Colts are coming off of a very successful 11-5 NFL season that ultimately ended in a loss in the Wild Card round. In this post, we'll be looking forward. More accurately, a discussion will be had about the Colts X Factor for the 2021 NFL season.
Nonetheless, the aforementioned version of the team was led by a 39-year-old Philip Rivers and I still don't think I'll ever get used to that.
Rivers was solid, but this team needed a quarterback upgrade so Carson Wentz was the guy the Colts brought in this offseason. Wentz has gone through some very high moments and some very low moments but the Colts hope he can provide some needed stability at the position. One thing the Eagles could rarely give Wentz was a great offensive line and he was sacked 50 times last season. If the Colts hope to get the most out of Wentz, they'll need the offensive line to step up once again.
Colts X Factor: The Offensive Line
Luckily for Carson Wentz, this Colts offensive line is among the best in the entire league. From left to right, the group is Eric Fisher, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski, and Braden Smith.
Fisher is probably the biggest question mark of the entire group, but not because of his talent. He missed the entirety of the 2020 season due to a severe Achilles injury and the injury caused him to not be picked up until after the draft. When he plays he's among the best tackles in the game but coming back as strong as before, especially as a lineman with an Achilles injury, is never going to be easy. The Colts are banking on him returning to one of the better versions of himself.
Quenton Nelson keeps making the Colts look good for taking him with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft. He has solidified himself as one of the best lineman in the entire league, not just on this Colts roster. According to PFF, Nelson has been a top three guard in every single season since being drafted. He's the total package on the line as both an elite run and pass blocker. An injury could sideline him for week one, but hopefully no longer. The Colts and Carson Wentz absolutely need him along the line.
Moving on to the center, Ryan Kelly is consistent and dependable, which is really all you ask for from an offensive lineman. Lining up alongside Quenton Nelson and Mark Glowinski has helped him improve a lot, but Kelly by himself is definitely a top 10 center in the league. Speaking of Mark Glowinski, he isn't the star that Nelson is but he still ranks in the top 25 for guards according to PFF grades. You know the Colts are in good shape when the biggest problems are a top 25 guard and a tackle in Eric Fisher who was elite just a couple seasons ago.
Finally, Braden Smith, the other starting tackle on the roster. Smith was taken in the second round by Indianapolis in the 2018 draft. That was the same draft the Colts took Nelson with the sixth pick so the first two round gave the Colts two lineman who have worked out about as good as they could've hoped. Smith has consistently been a top 20 tackle and there is no reason to think he won't continue to be that and more again in 2021.
Overall, if the Colts want Carson Wentz to succeed in 2021 then the offensive line needs to be at it's best. There are a couple injury concerns but the talent is there. If most things go right for the line this year then the Colts are looking at another trip to the playoffs. It's why the Colts X Factor for the 2021 NFL season is the entire offensive line.
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